I didn't get as far along today as I had hoped because my back was hurting too badly - and because these blocks were taking longer than I had anticipated.

I had to square up each of the half square triangles. They were just a sliver too big. I hate doing that but it's a necessary evil, especially when I'm working with precuts, in this case, a Jelly Roll. Those pinked edges give me fits. Apparently I don't always line up the very edge of the fabric, but instead leave a smidgeon of the pinked edge peeking out. Anyway, that took over an hour and is what started my backing hurting. Sitting too long without getting up to walk around.

Once those were done, I assembled eight or ten beans and then decided to call it a day. Then it took me a while to get all my gear back in the car. It was all worth it, though, because I had fun sewing with this wonderful group of ladies.

I came home and stretched out prone for a while and my back relaxed. Then I fell asleep. It's now 2:04 a.m. and I'm raring to go. I think I'll assemble a few more beans and then head back upstairs.

Tomorrow (or is it today?) I'll finish making the beans and start sashing them while laundry is going.

I've totally enjoyed these four days off. I usually wish I had done other things on long weekends, but this time I did exactly what I wanted to do. And you know what? I feel rested and ready to make the big push to Christmas!

For those who will ask, the pattern is String Beans by Loft Creations and the fabric is Reunion by Sweetwater.

Friday, November 23, 2012

I finished the Roman Holiday "easy" quilt. I put that in quotes because it took most of the day to assemble that blasted thing. Don't know why I thought it would go quickly. Anyway, I left it with Ginger to be quilted, so I guess this one is a done deal. Until it's time to do the binding. I like to do bindings, so I look forward to that part.

And wouldn't you know that after carefully laying out the rows, I still got them turned around. Oh, well, c'est la vie. It stays as it lays.

I thought the String Beans fabric was already cut out, but found that I still needed to make a ton of subcuts. So I got those done, and started making the half square triangles. Made half of those.

I left my machine at the shop and I'll go back tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Not staying the whole day, but I'd at least like to get the beans put together. I can do the sashings next weekend.

I say that with certainty because I'm on a sewing roll here!

It was a fun day. The ladies were all so nice. We laughed a lot, ordered in lunch, laughed some more .... I need to do this more often!

I'm heading over to Ginger's in a bit to sew all day. At least, I hope I can make it all day!

The projects I'm taking to work on:

* Gail's grandmother's quilt. I hope to get this squared and pinned to quilt.

* A Christmassy log cabin made out of Roman Holiday fabrics by 3 Sisters. I found the project yesterday with the last log pinned on all the blocks but not stitched. So I did that and pressed all the blocks. Just need to assemble them. There are no borders, so this will be an easy finish.

* The String Bean quilt which was previously sorted and cut. This one ought to be quick and easy, too. I'm looking for quick and easy now to feel a sense of progress and to get the sewing momentum going.

I'm hoping in the new year to sew a bit at night during the week. I get home late and I'm so tired by the time I walk the dog and fix something to eat. But I think it will do me tons of good to sit at the sewing machine for half an hour or so. Sometimes I feel as though I've lost the edge on creativity.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

It felt good to turn on the Bernina, even if was just to make and attach this binding!

This is so funny - well, for those who know me really well it's funny. I was stressing and searching and stressing and searching trying to find the binding fabric. I literally looked in every nook and cranny in my sewing room. I was about to fold this away for another day when the light bulb went off. Good grief, Vicky, just go up to the stash room and look in the Minick & Simpson section! Sure enough, there was major yardage of this fabric up there!

The stash room -- who'da thunk it?!!

I have Gail's grandmother's quilt ready to square and pin at the quilt shop tomorrow. I've gone as far as I can go on it here at home.

The other two projects on the short list will have to wait until tomorrow. Since I've tackled two of my projects, I want to do something fun.

Heading back in the sewing room to root around for some fabric to cut up and sew back together.

Anne Sutton's BOMs sell out quickly, so I'd suggest signing up now for this beauty!

I'll be starting this after the first of the year. I love pumpkins. I would decorate year-round in them if I could. This will be great to display in my "dream" house someday! Someday ......

Then there was a box in the mailbox. Uh oh!

Anne had talked about the Karisma marking pencils on her blog a while back. She sold out before I could get one, but she promptly reordered. I can't wait to try these out. Went ahead and got all of the colored leads, as well as the fabric eraser. I'll do a review on them after using the marker.

I also ordered a small wool kit to make a Snow Pocket. This will be so cute hanging on the Christmas tree with a gift tucked inside. Several of these will probably be made.

It's raining here. Maybe we are having a preview to our annual ten minutes of winter!

Short Listers -- there are two links at the top of my sidebar. A couple of folks don't have blogs, but their names are still listed. Carolyn had a great idea. She's going to add a project to her list when she finishes one. That way she'll always have a current to-do list instead of the UFO cache like I have. (sigh) I'm going to follow her lead and do likewise. My list won't always contain huge projects. Sometimes it'll be to do a repair like Carolyn is showing. If those kinds of things are listed, they'll more than likely get done!

If anyone else wants to join in the Short Listers, let me know and your name will be added. 2013 is going to be a year of accomplishments for a lot of us!

Anything else?

Nope, that's all I can think of at 6:30 in the morning.

Except for Penny's gentle snoring and the rain splattering on the roof, it's quiet and peaceful here. This is my favorite time of day. It's just starting to brighten a bit outside, and the promise of the day is here. I plan to finish up organizing the sewing room over this weekend. After all, next week means four uninterrupted days of sewing!!

Monday, November 12, 2012

I was chatting with Carolyn over at Lakeside Quilting the other day after I did the last blog post. She said she had some things she wanted/needed to finish up, and I replied using my Mom's wise words .... "Let's hold hands and do it together!"

I might or might not have been serious when I said that. You know how it is .... or maybe she didn't hear the sarcasm bouncing around in my mostly empty head! :) :) :)

Hopping forward to today, she emailed me and said she had blogged her short list, and where in the heck was mine? Uhhh.......

Carolyn, you snookered me into this - but I'm going to just do it!!!

Now I can't say that I'll get all these done by the end of the year what with two holidays between now and then, but I'm going to vow to get these done by the end of January! Or at least done to the point they go to the quilter.

There, I've said it!

Here goes!

1. Gail's grandmother's quilt - pin, quilt and bind. This one will take the longest so it's first.

4. Bind three quilts. Two are at the quilter, and the third one is just sitting here. They're all small.

I have a fifth one that I'm undecided about, so I won't list it for now. It involves taking off three borders and reattaching them. Borders are my least fun part of the quilt. No, wait, it's piecing the back. Borders, backing, borders, backing. I can't decide!

I told Carolyn that I get bored when I get to a certain point in the quilt process, but I need to start pushing through to get them finished.

My prize for finishing the four items listed will be to start a new quilt, or go into the UFO cache and choose one that is at least halfway done. (Bet you thought I was going to say I'd go shopping!!!!)

Cache ...it sounds nicer than saying the UFO pile, doesn't it? "Cache" is officially defined as "a hiding place esp. for concealing and preserving provisions or implements; a secure place of storage; a quilter's UFO pile." Just kidding on that last part - I think!

Anyone else want to join? We can all hold hands and do it together. It won't hurt so badly that way!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

After watching the wonderful video that Brenda Riddle posted on her blog, I've been very reflective today. As average citizens, there is no way we can ever thank those who have served and are serving except to tell them every chance we get how grateful we are for their service, and to also thank their families.

Been making great progress in my sewing room. No, not sewing, but getting things moved and tubbed. I want to spend the whole Thanksgiving holiday sewing, or cutting or binding, but definitely quilting in some form or fashion.

I tubbed up a bunch of things that are of interest to me right now. On top is the utility quilt made by my sister-in-law's grandmother. I will get that pinned this week as I want to get it grid quilted during the holidays.

I unearthed a top that I need to make a decision on. The top was finished in February of 2009. I stopped at that point because I couldn't decide whether I needed to add an extra border so that it drops correctly on my tall mattress. I'm going to make that decision this month so it can head off to the quilter. This will look great in my "dream" home! :) :) Just need to retire so I can do that deal!

The Prairie Paisley top also needs to go to the quilter. I mispieced the backing for it and it's not quite big enough. I need to drag it out and figure out an easy fix for that. I already have a bedroom envisioned with this quilt! :) :)

I remember Penny being such a BIG HELP while I was assembling the top! Wow, it's hard to remember her that tiny! The little snot!

New Year's Resolution -- yep, I've already decided that one! It won't be too difficult, I don't think, to accomplish.

I'm going to completely finish a top, including backing and making the binding, before I move onto something else. No more half-made projects sitting around here. Of course, my to-be-quilted pile will grow exponentially but that's okay. I'll just pile those up in the glow from the light at the end of the tunnel! Now, I'm sure my readers are going to have to remind me of this from time to time! You have my permission to do so. In fact, type your admonitions in ALL CAPS to grab my attention!

It's cold here, 37 degrees to be exact. So much for the Southern California sunshine factor!

Monday, November 05, 2012

You know how sometimes you wonder if anyone actually reads your blog? I honestly don't write for who might read it -- well, except for the give-aways -- but just to document things going on in my little world. However, every once in a while someone makes a comment or asks a question and it's just easier to show than try to explain in writing.

Back on January 13, 2009, I received an email from a quilter in Europe asking me to explain what I meant when I said I twirled seams. I tried to write an explanation, and then thought, "What the heck. I'll just show her." I posted it that day. A few people commented, and then I didn't give it another thought.

Well, today I was reading through the Design Wall Monday posts on Judy's Patchwork Times blog. When I clicked on Cherie in St. Louis' blog, imagine my surprise! She linked back to that 2009 tutorial I did on twirling seams!

Thanks, Cherie, for mentioning the tutorial in your blog post today. That made me smile!

And made me a little sad, too, because my hands are almost four years more wrinkled than they were in that post...............

I'm a Julie Herman fan, and recently bought her book Skip the Borders. I'd buy some fabric to make one or more quilts from that book, and then get her Hex and More ruler and try some of her patterns using that tool. Thanks for the giveaway, and for having an interesting blog to read. I follow you via Google reader.

Kathryn, please contact me so that we can arrange for your prize! Have fun shopping!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and told us about what you'd get. It was fun looking at all of your choices!

We'll do one more drawing of some kind before year's end. Penny liked having a bag full of slips with names to rummage through!